The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Germany will launch a series of formal conversations on how the diaspora could have a more impactful effect on homeland development.
The first edition of the ‘Development Roundtable’, as the series is called, will hold virtually on December 4, with the theme “Driving diaspora engagement towards the realisation of the SDGs in Nigeria”.
The online conference brings together practitioners, who will talk about how to refocus diaspora engagement on the sustainable improvement of the living condition of the people, contributing to the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.
The SDGs, also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
“We are of the conviction that everyone is needed to attain the ambitious SDGs. And that the creativity, know-how, contacts and financial resources of the diaspora are necessary to achieve the SDGs in every context,” NIDO Germany said in a statement. “We would like to mobilize the diaspora towards community improvement projects and direct economic empowerment schemes, where their engagement can make the most impact on the sustainable eradication of poverty and the improvement of the living condition of the people,” the organisation said, explaining its ultimate objective.
A panel at the online conference on 4 December will discuss how individual diaspora outreach can contribute to sustainable development in Africa’s most populous country.
Femi Awoniyi, President of NIDO Germany who is also the publisher of The African Courier, will deliver the keynote, highlighting the organisation’s new thinking on diaspora engagement for homeland development.
Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany, Alhaji Yusuf Tuggar, is the special guest speaker, at the event, which will be moderated by Michelle Olufeso.
NIDO Germany initiated the ‘Development Roundtable’ in a bid to deepen discussions on how the diaspora can optimise its contributions to homeland development beyond remittances, especially in support of national efforts towards the attainment of the SDGs.
